More than 3,000 operations have been cancelled by the NHS in the first two weeks of this month as an "unprecedented demand" takes its toll.

Figures show 3,113 elective operations were cancelled in that period, up by almost half since 2012.

In terms of operations classed as urgent 161 were cancelled in the two-week period, with some having been cancelled twice or more.

The figures, highlighted by Labour, show the repercussions of A&E departments under severe stress and a lack of beds for patients in need, a consultant and member of the Royal College of Surgeons said.

Shafi Ahmed said: "There is currently unprecedented demand on the NHS resulting in more cancellations of planned surgical operations.

"As a practising surgeon, looking after cancer patients, it is very difficult to have to tell a patient who has prepared themselves for a major procedure that their operation has been cancelled for non-clinical reasons.